High-performing Sheffield secondary school named 'World Class School of the Year'

Delegates were impressed with how students at King Ecgbert School hosted the World Class Symposium 2019

King Ecgbert School, in Dore, received the accolade at the World Class Schools Quality Mark (WCSQM) annual awards ceremony hosted by the University of Cambridge at the Lady Mitchell Hall on Thursday, December 19.

It comes after the school hosted the 2019 annual WCSQM Symposium, an event which was project managed by the students who did everything from setting it up to providing musical entertainment for over 250 delegates who attended, showcasing their world class creativity which was the theme of the event.

The students also ran the reception and schools tours, escorted delegates to sessions, managed VIPs and put on a music and dance display at the event’s culmination.

Students at King Ecgbert School hosted the annual symposium in 2019

Headteacher Paul Haigh said: “We feel humbled and privileged to receive this award because when we joined that group of elite schools what I was hoping to get out of it was networking with great schools who we could look up to and learn from. So, to then be selected as this year's cream of the crop is humbling and an utter privilege.”

The WCSQM recognises schools who have moved beyond outstanding. It holds an annual awards ceremony to celebrate accredited schools, as well as individual students from World Class schools in recognition of their outstanding achievements in 2019.

King Ecgbert School (KES) received its accreditation in 2017 after it was nominated by another World Class school in Nottingham.

It was the first to be awarded ‘The World Class School of the Year’ – established last year – after delegates expressed their awe over the professionalism shown by King Ecgbert students hosting the symposium.

Delegates at the World Class Schools Symposium were impressed with the creativity on display at King Ecgbert School

Nicholas Perry, a musician for The Globe Theatre London who was running a workshop, said: “Students from the school welcomed me with such warmth and friendliness. Nothing was too much for them. Their manners were exemplary. It made me realise that there are some young people who really do have the edge.”

Agnes Sykes-Whateley, a Year 10 student at KES, was also crowned joint winner of the WCSQM Essay Writing Competition and Tilly Hilton, Year 9, was shortlisted for the WCSQM Individual Achievement Award.